Sewage contaminates Umkomaas river
This has raised concerns that if the river becomes contaminated, people - and their animals - using the water will fall ill.
RAW sewage has been gushing from a manhole and running down Elizabeth Street in Umkomaas for just over two weeks now.
During the day, toilet paper and faeces can be seen flowing down the street and running into a storm water drain which flows into the river below.
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This has raised concerns that if the river becomes contaminated people – and their animals – using the water will fall ill.
Fish and birds could also be adversely affected.
“It’s already so awful during the day even though most people are not home, so one can imagine what happens in the afternoons and evenings when everyone returns from work and school,” said Elizabeth Street resident, Trevor McAlpine.
Mr McAlpine has reported the leak several times times and has been in contact with eThekwini Municipality in order to keep track of progress but, he said, there had been none.
He did however make mention of Thokozani Pepu and Lennon Pillay who have been helping him get in touch with the right departments.
“I informed the municipality that the sewage was flowing down into the river and polluting it, so they upgraded my complaint to an ‘emergency matter’ which I was told would be dealt with sooner, but it has now been two weeks with no action taken,” he added.
The Mail called eThekwini Municipality to find out if any progress had been made, but was told that the reference number was now closed, despite the problem being unresolved.
eThekwini’s communication department was contacted for comment, but none was received at the time of going to press.
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